Tancredo: Enforcement Must Come Before Guest Workers

Senate Judiciary Hearing Shows Administration’s Plan Is Out of Touch with Mainstream America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) criticized President Bush’s guest worker plan as poor public policy and contrary to American public opinion. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao presented in greater detail the President’s guest worker plan to the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Although the Administration is now committed to more technology and greater resources on the border, the President’s cabinet continued lobbying for a guest worker plan before the borders are secured.

The American people have made themselves clear: our borders must be secured and our laws must be enforced before any guest worker plan can go into effect. The Administration’s continued kowtowing to big business defies political sense,” said Tancredo. “Even with the President’s backing, no plan that offers amnesty to illegal aliens will pass this Congress.”

Despite the disappointing push for a guest worker plan, Bush Administration officials began to talk tough on border enforcement during the hearing. Chertoff said that Homeland Security will change its policy towards interdicted OTMs from “catch and release” to “catch and return.” Also, Chertoff mentioned using UAVs and other military technology, while Chao pledged to simplify the myriad H visa categories.

Slowly, the President’s team is coming to realize that they have a political revolt on their hands. And, it’s no longer just the conservative base that’s angry about illegal immigration—there’s widespread discontent about our broken system from coast to coast, from left to right. This change in language is a sign that they know there’s a problem.” said Tancredo.

Tancredo concluded, “Using military technology on the border, scrapping the widely-abused H visa categories and deporting illegals caught by our border patrol are all common-sense solutions I’ve advocated for a long time. I sincerely hope the Administration’s language is backed up by action.”